LIVE | Excitement builds ahead of London Irish v Stormers clash – VIDEO

Excitement is building ahead of kick-off in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup encounter between London Irish and the Stormers at the Brentford Community Stadium.

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Kick-off is at 15:00 (SA time).

The Stormers are currently fifth in Pool B after two matches, while London Irish are 11th.

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There are four changes to the Stormers team.

There are two changes to the forward pack and two in the backline, along with a few positional switches, for the return clash with the English Premiership outfit.

Lock Connor Evans makes his first start for the Stormers, while in the loose trio Junior Pokomela is at blindside flank.

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In the backline, Angelo Davids comes in for the injured Leolin Zas and a fit-again Ruhan Nel joins Dan du Plessis in midfield, with Damian Willemse at fullback.

Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, prop Ali Vermaak, scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will all get an opportunity from a replacements bench which also includes utility forward Simon Miller, who will make his Stormers debut if he comes on.

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Head coach John Dobson said that his team will need to be at their best to get what would be a valuable away win.

“There are not many team winning away from home in this competition, so we know that it will take our best on Sunday.

“There has been some hard work put in on the training ground this week, so hopefully we will see that pay off come Sunday,” he said.

TEAMS

London Irish

15 Ben Loader, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Rory Jennings, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Rogerson (captain), 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Chandler Cunningham-South, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Michael Dykes

Stormers

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Daniel du Plessis, 11. Angelo Davids, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Hacjivah Dayimani, 7. Junior Pokomela, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Connor Evans, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Replacements: 16. Andre Venter, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Brok Harris, 19. Simon Miller, 20. BJ Dixon, 21. Willie Engelbrecht, 22. Stefan Ungerer, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu